ECU Remapping FAQs – Reading, Berkshire
Cars, Motorbikes, Jet Skis, Commercial Vans, HGV Lorries …
We have listed a few frequently asked questions along with the answers on this page. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have a question or concern that is not detailed below. We are always on hand to respond to your enquiries.
What is a remap?
Put simply, a remap is a recalibration of the car’s Engine Electronic Control Unit (ECU) to provide more power.
Why would I want a remap?
There are many reasons, some more obvious than others. As a remap increases the power output of the engine, there are many advantages. Your vehicle will be quicker, flat spots in the rev range can be eliminated and believe it or not, your fuel economy will increase. The increase in power can be very practical too, particularly for load-lugging and towing.
Is it safe?
Remapping is perfectly safe if it is a good, well developed tune. There is no getting away from the fact that it will make your engine work a little harder, but it is still well within the safe parameters of the engine. Nothing we do will over-stress your engine and we don’t push everything to the absolute limit. Of course if you are looking for something with a little more spice than usual, we can cater for your individual taste.
Why aren’t cars “remapped” by the manufacturer?
When a manufacturer builds an engine, the engine needs to run on fuel in every market that the vehicle is sold in, which more often than not is not just in the UK or Europe. In the UK we have much better quality fuel than many countries and so with a remap, it is possible to capitalise on some of the unnecessary margins built in by the manufacturer. Also, manufacturers have to build engines that can work in many climes, some much more extreme than our own. The engine has to output the same power whether the ambient temperature is -40° or +40°. The manufacturer will always “play safe” and cater for every eventuality in the standard map which leaves room for improvement.
How can my car possibly use less fuel?
With a remapped ECU, your car will produce more power which means you can reach your target speed in a quicker fashion. The most economical way to drive is to reach your target speed quickly and switch to a high gear for economy. Furthermore the remap can be tuned specifically to provide better MPG by altering the fuelling and timing.
Can it be detected?
Remapping does not involve a physical re-chip as with older vehicles and it will not be apparent on first-glance that your car is remapped. Infact, unless there appears to be a problem when a diagnostic scan is run, or on the first test drive, we don’t even need to open the bonnet. However, there are many tuning companies online who state that their remaps are “undetectable” and this simply isn’t true. While it may not be physically apparent it is relatively easy to find out by comparing the contents of the ECU with a standard one, by verifying the checksum (a value calculated against the contents of the ECU), and by taking the vehicle for a test drive and taking some logs of the data provided by the ECU. Remapping is NOT undetectable, and don’t let anyone tell you different.
Will it affect my vehicle warranty?
The short answer is yes. However many dealerships are aware of remaps and are not scared of them, some even offer them! It is important to note that a manufacturer cannot refuse a warranty claim on your car because it is remapped, they would have to prove that any failure was directly caused or affected by the remap. This is always a grey area and some people prefer the “head in the sand” approach where other people are more up front with their dealers. Remember that a dealer wants your business, so perhaps find a more understanding dealer or use an independent specialist if you are experiencing problems.
Will it affect my insurance?
In the majority of cases, yes. Obviously this will depend heavily on individual circumstances and some insurers do not charge an increased premium. However it would be wise to check with your insurer first and perhaps shop around before deciding to have your car tuned.